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Variable Interest Entities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]  
Variable Interest Entities
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
The primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the VIE and to disclose certain information about its significant variable interests in the VIE. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the entity that has both 1) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and 2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
Dominion
Through August 2013, Dominion leased the Fairless generating facility in Pennsylvania from Juniper, the lessor, which began commercial operations in June 2004. In August 2013, the lease expired and Dominion purchased Fairless for $923 million from Juniper per the terms of the lease agreement. However, as Dominion had previously consolidated Juniper, the purchase was accounted for as an equity transaction to acquire the noncontrolling interests from Juniper for $923 million, while Dominion retained control of Fairless. The acquisition resulted in the removal of securities due within one year-VIE and noncontrolling interests from Dominion's Consolidated Balance Sheet during 2013.
Dominion has an initial 45% membership interest in Atlantic Coast Pipeline. See Note 9 for more details regarding the nature of this entity. Dominion concluded that Atlantic Coast Pipeline is a VIE because it has insufficient equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support. Dominion has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of Atlantic Coast Pipeline as it does not have the power to direct the activities of Atlantic Coast Pipeline that most significantly impact its economic performance, as the power to direct is shared among multiple unrelated parties. Dominion is obligated to provide capital contributions based on its ownership percentage. Dominion's maximum exposure to loss is limited to its current and future investment.
Dominion Gas
DTI has been engaged to oversee the construction of, and to subsequently operate and maintain, the projects undertaken by Atlantic Coast Pipeline based on the overall direction and oversight of Atlantic Coast Pipeline's members. An affiliate of DTI holds a membership interest in Atlantic Coast Pipeline, therefore DTI is considered to have a variable interest in Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The members of Atlantic Coast Pipeline hold the power to direct the construction, operations and maintenance activities of the entity. DTI has concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of Atlantic Coast Pipeline as it does not have the power to direct the activities of Atlantic Coast Pipeline that most significantly impact its economic performance. DTI has no obligation to absorb any losses of the VIE. See Note 24 for information about associated related party receivable balances.
Virginia Power
Virginia Power has long-term power and capacity contracts with five non-utility generators with an aggregate summer generation capacity of approximately 870 MW. These contracts contain certain variable pricing mechanisms in the form of partial fuel reimbursement that Virginia Power considers to be variable interests. After an evaluation of the information provided by these entities, Virginia Power was unable to determine whether they were VIEs. However, the information they provided, as well as Virginia Power's knowledge of generation facilities in Virginia, enabled Virginia Power to conclude that, if they were VIEs, it would not be the primary beneficiary. This conclusion reflects Virginia Power's determination that its variable interests do not convey the power to direct the most significant activities that impact the economic performance of the entities during the remaining terms of Virginia Power's contracts and for the years the entities are expected to operate after its contractual relationships expire. The contracts expire at various dates ranging from 2015 to 2021. Virginia Power is not subject to any risk of loss from these potential VIEs other than its remaining purchase commitments which totaled $639 million as of December 31, 2014. Virginia Power paid $223 million, $217 million, and $214 million for electric capacity and $138 million, $98 million, and $83 million for electric energy to these entities for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Virginia Power and Dominion Gas
Virginia Power and Dominion Gas purchased shared services from DRS, an affiliated VIE, of approximately $335 million and $106 million, $331 million and $115 million, and $328 million and $107 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Virginia Power and Dominion Gas determined that each is not the most closely associated entity with DRS and therefore neither is the primary beneficiary. DRS provides accounting, legal, finance and certain administrative and technical services to all Dominion subsidiaries, including Virginia Power and Dominion Gas. Virginia Power and Dominion Gas have no obligation to absorb more than their allocated shares of DRS costs.